English schools in China

Zhoukou Normal University, established in 1973, is a state-owned provincial tertiary institution accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is located in Zhoukou, a historic city that lies where the Yinghe River, the Shahe River and the Jialuhe River meet. As a cradle of Chinese civilizations, Zhoukou boasts a long history and historical heritages. The “Three Emperors” in ancient time, namely, Fuxi, Nuwa and Shen Nong established their capitals here. Lao Zi，the founding father of Taoism, was born in Luyi County, Zhoukou. With its long history, splendid culture, rich resources and convenient transportation, Zhoukou holds the reputation of an “Ancestor of Huaxia, Holiness of Jiuzhou”.

Zhoukou Normal University has an abundance of resources. The University occupies an area coverage of about 251.22 acres (1525 mu), and a construction area of more than 485,000 square meters. Its total teaching and research equipments have reached the value of 105 million Yuan (RMB). The university has 70 standard laboratory and one research center for analysis and measurement. The collection in the library includes 1,020,000 books, over 100,000 foreign books, 5000 kinds of periodicals and Chinese periodical database.

At present Zhoukou Normal University is a comprehensive university with 16 faculties and 5 departments of public basic education, offering 41 undergraduate programs: liberal arts, science, engineering, law, history, education and economics. It has 3 Provincial Characteristic Programs, 6 Provincial Excellent Curriculum, 2 Provincial Key Research Programs and a Provincial Center of Constructing Experimental Teaching Demonstration. The Teacher’s Training Center was nominated to report to the State Experimental Teaching Center.

Zhoukou Normal University currently has 20,000 full-time students and 9,000 part-time adult students with a teaching staff of 798, of which 256 professors and associate are professors, accounting for 29.9% of the total. Of the teachers, 438 have Ph.D or MA degrees, accounting for 48.7% of the total professional teachers. There are 5 foreign experts of distinguished contributions. There are 47 excellent specialists of Henan province, and excellent provincial youth backbone teachers. The University also invites 28 part-time professors inside and outside Henan province.

Zhoukou Normal University holds the guiding principle of “teaching is the foundation, research is the enhancement” and pays special attention to the innovation of teaching method and scientific research in order to build a talent training mode which can be accommodated the development of 21st century. The university vigorously carries forward the innovation of education theory, teaching methodology and education administration; actively exploits and applies the modern educational technology such as computer, multimedia and information network; energetically develops the education research; participates in the basic education reform and probes into the disciplines of the normal education. From 2002, the University members have published over 2595 journal articles with 968 published in national key periodicals; compiled 159 academic books, text books and reference books. The university has taken the lead of 359 national and provincial research projects. And the Zhoukou Normal University Journal is distributed to the national public, which is the recruit of Chinese Key Periodical database (selection), and is awarded the excellent journal among Henan university journals.

Zhoukou Normal University has taken an active part in international academic cooperation and exchange. With the main objectives of enhancing our international influence; introducing advanced educational resources abroad; developing educational programs based on the needs of our teachers and students as well as economic and social development in Zhoukou; etc. the University has been strengthening the cooperation and exchange with the colleges and universities overseas.

At present, Zhoukou Normal University has established a sound exchange relationship with Nottingham Trent University, UK; University of Tasmania, Australia; Brewton-Parker College, USA; Georgia Southwestern State University, USA; Cheju National University, Korea; Orio Aishin Junior College, Japan; etc. An agreement on cooperative education has been signed with Brewton-Parker College and Orio Aishin Junior College. According to the Agreement, teachers and students of Zhoukou Normal University will have chances to go and study at the two universities for one year or one semester.

Currently, the number of students enrolled in the Foreign Languages Department is over 2100. Native speakers of English and Japanese are needed .
The workload is 16-18 hours each week, with a monthly salary of 5000 yuan, which guarantees a quite comfortable life at the university. The monthly cost of living for the local people is about 500 yuan per month.
In addition to the salary, the university will provide each foreign teacher with round-trip fares of 12,000 yuan in cash upon their service for a whole year, a free pickup at the Zhengzhou International Airport, a free furnished private apartment on campus with air-conditioning, an annual traveling allowance of 2200 yuan and a number of other amenities. The furnished housing includes: a bedroom, a study, a sitting room, a kitchen with all cooking utensils, a bathroom, a computer with free Internet service, a TV set, etc.